A Llanelli Chronology
The information in this section is an edited version taken from Llanelli - Birth of a Town a CdRom by William and Benita Rees
250,000 BC to AD 999
AD 300 400 500 600 700 800 910 1018-1099
1100-1199 1200-1299 1300-1399 1400-1499
1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 1900-2007
Cunedda St Cadoc Gorseinon Hywel Dda Rhodri Mawr Offa
BC
250,000 Britain was still joined to Europe in a single land mass and partly covered by glacial ice sheets. Neanderthal tribesmen roamed vast areas of land extending from Wales to the Netherlands.
10,000 The Ice Age began to retreat, glaciers melted and Britain became an island. The rivers Llwchwr, Taf and Gwendraeth had been tributaries of the river Tywi that flowed into the River Severn. A valley drowned by the rise in sea level was flooded and became what is now known as the Bristol Channel.
6,000 The coastline of Wales was similar to that which exists today.
4,000 Semi-nomadic settlers arrived from all directions and brought farming to Wales.
2,000 Cydweli, Llannon and Carmel were important Early Bronze Age centres. Ancient sea routes from Ireland to South and West Wales were probably in existence and for many thousands of years the Burry Inlet, Llwchwr Estuary and the Lliedi River would have been safe havens and stopping-off points for seafarers.
1,000 Tribal groupings emerged with a tendency towards a warlike chieftain society.
600 Goidels or Gaels – the first immigrant barbaric tribes – arrived in West Wales from Ireland.
100 Wales had developed into tribal regions occupied by the Silures, Ordovices, Demetae, Cornovii, Deceangli and Druids. The area where the town of Llanelli developed at a much later date was in a no man’s land between the Demetae and the Silures.
54 Julius Caesar invaded Britain but was unable to complete his conquest.
43 Emperor Claudius began his conquest of Britain.
80 The hostile Welsh tribes were finally conquered by the Romans. When the Romans had arrived in Wales they were faced with ‘an unruly, rude, pagan, pastoral, war-mad, quick to battle, Celtic speaking people, whose only weapons were spears and swords’.
Very little written evidence survives from the Roman period in South and South West Wales. What is known is that they built a major military fort and settlement at Loughor (Leucarum) before penetrating westward to Carmarthen (Moridunum).
Romans crossed the River Llwchwr and were thought to have built a marching camp at Llanelli.
120 Emperor Hadrian visited Britain and a major re-organisation took place. Large numbers of soldiers were withdrawn to build Hadrian’s Wall.
150 Roman garrisons were reduced in Wales.
200 During the 3rd century an Irish tribe, led by their Chieftain, Eochaid, who had been expelled from Ireland, sailed across the Irish Sea and settled an area known as Demetia (South West Wales), later known as Pembrokeshire and West Carmarthenshire.
300 Folklore suggests that during the reign of the last great Roman Emperor Diocletian in 284-305, at Tydu near Trebeddrod, the Ancient Britons encountered a Roman Legion.
Gwynedd, Powys, Glywyssing and Dyfed were the main Kingdoms to emerge after the Romans left Wales.
354 Caradog, King of Gwynedd, was strangled by the Saxons.
363 Arthgen, King of Ceredigion, died.
364 Rhain, King of Demetae, died.
366 St David’s was burned.
370 Irish tribes had established themselves in the area known as Demetia (Dyfed) and married into the native Brythonic Tribes. Demetia tribes were thought to be bilingual – speaking Brythonic and Goidelic – with Latin and Ogam as written languages.
383 Macsen Wledig, accompanied by his wife Elen, withdrew his army to the Continent.
388 Macsen Wledig was defeated by Theodosius. Elen returned to Wales with her sons and they played an important role in establishing the Monastic Movement.
390 All over Wales as the Monastic movement developed, and conversion from the old religion began to take place the old Celtic Pagan traditions were gradually absorbed into the new Christian religion.
400 Springs and Wells, which had been worshipped and venerated from pre-Christian times, played an important role in all types of religious ceremonies. They were accommodated within the transition from the old Celtic Pagan religion to the new Christian religion.
By the beginning of the 5th century the Celtic Christians had developed their own style of Christianity and the church in Wales began to flourish. There were so many Holy Men that the 5th and 6th centuries became known as ‘The Age of Saints’.
It is thought that there was an ancient Pagan shrine and well situated on or near the site where Llanelli Parish Church stands today.
Ancient tradition and legend also suggest that Cunedda, a Roman officer transferred from Southern Scotland during the 5th century when the Roman army was leaving Britain, and his eight sons and grandson drove out the Irish Goidels from Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Anglesey. Cunedda is thought to have penetrated as far south as present day Carmarthenshire, commemorated by Allt Cunedda near Kidwelly.
Cunedda is thought to have founded one of the three saintly families of Wales, from which Saint David and St Teilo were descended. The Royal lineage of Gwynedd, which came to an end with Llywelyn the Last, is said to be descended from Cunedda, through his son Einion Yrth.
The Vaughan and Stepney families of Llanelli, can trace their lineage back to Cunedda, through Hugh Vaughan (of the powerful Vaughan family of Golden Grove), Ednyfed Fychan, his wife Princess Gwenllian, daughter of the Lord Rhys and the Welsh Princes, Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, Hywel Dda and Rhodri Mawr.
Tryffin, descended from Eochaid Allmuir, an Irish Chieftain expelled from Ireland in the 3rd century, ruled Central Demetia. He was known as Pyr y Dwyrain, used the title Tribune, and eventually retired to his island Ynys Pyr, now known as Caldey Island.
450 Aircol Lawhir (Longhand) used the Roman military title of Agricola, and was known as Aergol, Argol, Ruler of Demetia c 450-500. He was said to be very generous to the Celtic Monasteries.
Local rulers still used Roman titles, such as ‘Protector’, ‘Magistrate’ or ‘Citizen’, the title Prince or King was used much later.
500 Missionaries from St Cadoc’s monastery at Llancarfan followed the old Roman roads along the south coast, and are thought to have established their religious cells on or near Pagan shrines. This was not unusual, because shrines were often found near wells or springs which were ideal locations for isolated monasteries.
According to legend and tradition there was a Pagan shrine on or near the site where Llanelli Parish Church stands today. During the Age of Saints, St Cadoc is believed to have established a religious cell on or near the Pagan shrine, which he dedicated to his favourite disciple, Saint Elli.
513 St Piza (St Peirio, St Piero, Piro, or Pirus) is thought to have founded a religious cell or monastery at Machynys.
550 During this period it was part of the Christian culture to make pilgrimages to Holy places. With religious cells at Llanelli and Machynys it is quite feasible that Celtic missionaries and pilgrims may well have sailed into the safe waters of the Burry Inlet, the Llwchwr and Lliedi Rivers, on their pilgrimages to St David’s, or other monasteries, shrines and Holy wells.
Vortepor, Ruler of Demetia, son of Aircol Lawhir (Longhand) died circa 550.
600 It is known that missionaries took a long time to convert the Brythonic tribes to Christianity, and there was no dramatic break from the old Celtic religion to the new Christian religion.
Wales had developed into a collection of different kingdoms, some were about the size of a parish whilst others were just over the size of three or four counties.
650 Gŵyr (Gower), Ergyng and Gwent began to emerge during the 6th and 7th centuries. The main kingdoms around this time were Gwynedd, Powys, Glywyssing, Dyfed, Gwyr, Ergyng and Gwent.
Kings and princes constantly fought each, other and the boundaries of their kingdoms and princedoms frequently changed along with the fortunes of their rulers. One of the main reasons for the squabbling was the policy of partible inheritance, which was a custom of dividing kingdoms between all the sons. This strategy led to the formation of smaller kingdoms, all with different loyalties, weaknesses and priorities.
700 The period from the 5th to 9th centuries is recognised as the Dark Ages, and very little is known about this time in history.
The tribes of Wales and the region between the rivers Severn and Forth had been known as Britons, or Brythoniaid, and their language was Brythonic.
During their struggles against the Anglo-Saxon invaders, the Brythons joined forces with other tribes, including the Irish Goidels and became known as, Combroges, or Cymry, meaning ‘Fellow Countryman’.
The Welsh word Saeson, meaning ‘Saxon’, the Anglo-Saxon word ‘Welsh’ meaning ‘foreigner’ and the Welsh word ‘Cymry’ all originated during this period of turmoil and conflict.
During the 8th and 9th centuries Brycheiniog, Ceredigion and Buellt began to emerge and the main kingdoms were, Gwynedd, Powys, Glywyssing, Dyfed, Gwyr, Ergyng, Gwent, Brycheiniog, Ceredigion and Buellt.
735 A Charter in the Book of Llandaff refers to a Synod when Gwgan ap Gwynon was excommunicated and had to cede ‘terra Machnis’ (Machynys) an area of 6 modi about 54 acres, to the Church to obtain a pardon.
776 Mercia had a strong leader, known as Offa of Mercia, whose kingdom had become superior to the other Saxon territories of Wessex and Northumbria, and he posed a considerable threat to the Welsh. Offa invaded South Wales and penetrated as far as Dyfed when carrying out a damaging raid.
780 Offa of Mercia was at the height of his power when he decided to build his famous Dyke which extended for nearly 150 miles along the length of the Welsh/English border from just east of the Wye Estuary in the South to Basingwerk on the Dee Estuary in the North.
796 Offa died and Mercia fell into a state of disarray and confusion.
799 From the end of the 8th century and for the next 300 years, the Vikings became the dominant power in Europe, and their long ships, crammed with adventurous, restless, barbaric warrior Norsemen, struck fear in the hearts of men, women and children alike.
800 As the Saxons struggled against the Vikings, the kingdoms and princedoms of Wales, slowly began to be united through marriage rather than conquest. The heir of one kingdom married the heiress of another and around this time a chain of marriages began when ‘Gwriad of the lineage of the Men of the North’ married ‘Esyllt of the lineage of Maelgwyn Fawr’.
825 Egbert, the Saxon king of Wessex defeated Mercia to become the first King of a unified England.
With the death of Hywel, uncle to Esyllt of the line of Maelgwyn Fawr, the direct male line of Cunedda ended and Princess Esyllt who had married Gwriad ap Elidir, a Manx Prince, became successor to the kingdom of Gwynedd.
830 Having taken control of Mercia, Egbert of Wessex raided Welsh territory and Viking colonies began to appear in parts of Ireland.
844 When Merfyn Frych, King of Gwynedd (the son of Esyllt and Gwriad ap Elidir, a Manx Prince), died, his son Rhodri inherited his kingdom. Through his marriage to Nest, heiress of Powys, Merfyn Frych united the dynasties of Gwynedd and Powys.
Rhodri (son of Merfyn and Nest) King of Gwynedd and Powys married Angharad of the House of Seisyllwg (Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi). He united these kingdoms and was destined to become Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great), ruler of all Wales.
853 Aethelwulf raided Welsh territory.
The Irish were crushed and overwhelmingly defeated by the Vikings who then turned their attention to Wales.
860 In time the newly created town of Dublin became one of the Vikings’ most important strongholds. From Dublin and another stronghold, Limerick, the Vikings sent out raiding parties to the Welsh coast.
865 A Viking leader known as Gorm led an attack on Anglesey and during the battle was killed by Rhodri Mawr. As a result Rhodri received international recognition.
872 Rhodri Mawr (ruler of Gwynedd and Powys), added Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi (Seisyllwg) to his kingdom.
877 Dyfed was easily accessible by sea and became a prime target for the Vikings who spent the winter of 877 somewhere in Dyfed preparing for an expedition into England the following Spring.
It is possible that the barbaric ‘Men of the Inlet’ (Vikings), may also have sailed in their light dragon ships into the mouth of the River Lliedi as they looked for new places to plunder and pillage.
Many of the Vikings were merchant traders who built up a prosperous slave trade using the many coastal trading centres along the Welsh Coast. However, it was not only the Vikings who exploited the slave trade; Irishmen and Welshmen also developed this lucrative traffic in human misery.
The numerous local estuaries, rivers and streams gave the Viking raiders, merchants and settlers easy access to new lands. They traded in all types of commodities including food, woollen cloth and especially Welsh horses. The Viking warriors were mercenary soldiers and many Welsh Princes hired them to fight their battles against each other and the Saxons across the Welsh Border.
878 Rhodri Mawr’s rule brought a certain amount of peace and security and he was the first ruler to succeed in giving Wales a political unity. His territories extended from Anglesey in the North to Gŵyr (Gower) in the South, including Gwynedd, Powys and Seisyllwg (Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi). The area where the town of Llanelli was later to develop was then part of Seisyllwg.
Rhodri Mawr and his eldest son Gwriad were killed in battle against the Saxons and his territories were shared between his three strongest sons, Anarawd (Gwynedd), Merfyn (Powys) and Cadell (Seisyllwg). This resulted in a period of political disunity and Wales was at the mercy of the Vikings to the West and the Saxons to the East. The Saxons lost no time in crossing Offa’s Dyke, marching deep into Gwent, Brycheiniog and Morgannwg, devastating crops, farms, hamlets villages and towns as they went.
910 Cadell, King of Seisyllwg, died and his kingdom was shared between his sons Hywel and Clydog.
915 Owain of South Wales was defeated in Mercia.
916 Ethelfleda of Mercia stormed and burned Brycheiniog, capturing the wife of the ruling king from his Llys.
Anarawd (Rhodri Mawr’s eldest surviving son), died and his son Idwal received Gwynedd and annexed Powys.
918 Idwal (grandson of Rhodri Mawr) and his two cousins, Hywel and Clydog (sons of Cadell) who shared Seisyllwg, crossed Offa’s Dyke and the three Welsh rulers paid homage to the Saxon King Edward the Elder (son of Alfred the Great).
920 Clydog died and his brother Hywel Dda inherited all of Seisyllwg. Shortly after Clydog’s death Hywel Dda married Elen heiress of Dyfed. Elen was the daughter of Llywarch ap Hyfaidd the last ruler of Dyfed, and as her dowry she brought Dyfed to Hywel. Hywel united Dyfed, Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi to create the great kingdom of Deheubarth and so he became ruler of all South and West Wales.
Hywel Dda was a gifted organiser and a man of peace, who secured harmony in his territories by paying homage to the Saxon Kings.
925 Edward the Elder died and his son Athelstan inherited the crown of England
926 Athelstan, the Saxon King of England, summoned Hywel Dda, other leading Welsh Princes, the Scots, the Picts and the Strathclyde Britons to a meeting at Hereford. The Princes paid homage to the new King and the course of the Wye was fixed as being the accepted legal boundary between the Welsh and Saxon lands.
942 Idwal, ruler of Gwynedd and Powys was killed in a battle against the Saxons of Mercia, but his son did not inherit his kingdom. Power passed to Hywel Dda who achieved his political ambition of becoming ruler of most of Wales. The smaller kingdoms of Morgannwg, Brycheiniog and Gwent remained independent and ruled by their own Princes.
950 Hywel Dda, who had created the great and powerful kingdom of Deheubarth by political diplomacy, died. His territory then passed to his son Owain and his relatives fought over different parts of Deheubarth.
During the century that followed Hywel Dda’s death 35 Welsh rulers were killed as territories changed hands.
954 Owain ap Hywel Dda remained undisputed ruler of Deheubarth after the death of his brothers Rhodri (953) and Edwin (954) because they left no heirs. Owain regarded himself as ruler of both Gwynedd and Deheubarth, but after his defeat near Llanrwst he made no further attempt to assert his claims.
960 Owain ap Hywel Dda turned his attention to Morgannwg and ravaged the cantref of Gorfynydd.
970 Einon ap Owain ap Hywel Dda plundered Gower in 970 and 977, which had been in the temporary possession of Morgannwg.
982 The Vikings successfully continued their invasion and attacked St David’s four times between 982 and 999. During the final attack the Bishop was murdered.
982 There is no evidence to show that the small monastery at Llanelli was attacked during these violent times, but it is reasonable to assume that it witnessed occasional hostilities.
984 Einon ap Owain ap Hywel Dda was said to have been killed on marshland between Loughor and Penllergaer, which event later gave the area the name Gorseinon.
986 Owain ap Hywel Dda was by now an old man and handed over control of his affairs to his son Maredudd who then conquered Gwynedd and became ruler during his own father’s lifetime.
The 13 years of Maredudd ap Owain’s rule (from 986 to 999) gave unity to Gwynedd and Deheubarth, which was held together despite the danger from the Vikings and the Mercians.
988 Owain ap Hywel Dda died but his son Maredudd had already taken control of his territories.
999 Maredudd ap Owain died and the next few decades became confused as Gwynedd and Deheubarth were seized by men who were not descendants of Rhodri Mawr.
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Page updated Tuesday August 07, 2007